oldacura

I did a search on this & found the most recent threads to be about 2 years old.

On our current tandem we use double-sided SPD or SPD knock-off pedals with mountain bike shoes. This is because we want to be able to walk semi-normally when we get off the bike.

We're having a new bike built. We need to get pedals (& shoes) for it. My priorities are: 1) Able to walk in semi-normally, 2) Reasonably light weight, 3) Not outrageously expensive (<$150/pair). The previous "conventional wisdom" seemed to point to Shimano PD-A600 pedals. These are relatively inexpensive. Will the right shoe/cleat combination allow easy walking?

I have seen Speedplay pedals but have no experience with them. I think they can get expensive but do they fit my other criteria?

Other opinions? (this is for a road bike).

Thanks.

colotandem

We use mtb shoes. Shimano SPD for stoker and Time ATAC for captain. We use this combination on all of our tandems regardless of mtb or road. On our road tandem we sprung for the XTR Shimano pedals and the Carbon Time ATOC to shave a few grams, otherwise we usually have a less expensive pedal on the mtb tandems (cheaper to replace b/c they get beat up much more).

Mtb shoes are easier to walk in and provide a much more stable platform when putting a foot down and stabilizing the tandem.

We have actually gotten rid of all of our road shoes and pedals for sake of comfort and simplicity. This works well for our use.

zonatandem

We utilize toeclips and straps. Tried clipless about 14 years ago and were not impressed, plus stoker developed knee issues.
At her suggestion went back to touring type shoes and toeclips. Works for us!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Alcanbrad

I run PD-A600's on all my single road bikes and love them. Light weight and a wide platform. On both our tandems I use PD-M324 SPD/Flat combination pedals. These have an SPD mount on one side and an old tyme flat pedal surface on the other. I find this combination a nice balance of being able to unclip and have good shoe to pedal contact when in dicey situations where I might have to put a foot down quickly.

geronimo2000

I have used Time ATAC for many years and recently have mounted a pair of ATAC-compatible Rinko pedals that come off with no tools.

https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...-pedals-rinko/

I like the MTB shoes and the simplicity of the ATAC cleats - and the ease of dismounting the Rinkos opens up a lot of options.

CoMotionRider

I run PD-A520 (its similar to the PD-600) on my tandem. I like using the MTB shoe so I can walk around but also when putting my foot down they have not slipped like my road shoes have while holding the tandem at a stop. I have used Speedplay pedals on my single and tried one time on the tandem but it was a no go. The speedplays are also harder to walk in the MTB cleats.

merlinextraligh

Speedplays definitely meet the weight criteria in that they are very light. As for cost, you can get Light Action Speed plays in your budget.

Walking is where they fail your criteria. About the worst cleats to walk in out there. Also they can get fouled with dirt walking in loose soil. You can put covers on them that help a little, but keeping up with them is a hassle.

IMHO, Speedplays are great racing pedals. You can't beat the ease of entry starting a crit. With 4 bolt shoes and no adapter, they're the lightest pedal available, have virtually no stack height, and have a great cornering angle. ( I scrape the side of my shoe on the road before the pedal strikes.)

But if walking around in them is a significant criteria, I'd pass on Speedplays.

oldacura

I never considered holding up the bike (as captain). With our current MTB shoes & cleats, this has never been a problem. I run Durace pedals on road shoes for my single. I'm trying to imagine holding the bike up with these shoes. Probably won't work very well. I'm guessing that road shoes with soles that project below the cleat may be non-existent (correct?). This may make me re-consider MTB shoes & cleats.

colotandem

I don't think it is an insurmountable challenge to hold up the tandem with road shoes, many people have no problems. I am sure it works just fine in most cases. I just don't see the point. We already have mtb shoes. They are easier to walk in and provide a more solid footing when holding up the big bike. We also are a bit non-traditional in that I usually only put one foot down when coming to a stop and/or starting. So the rugged sole on the mtb shoe serves us well

I suppose if we were racing, I might think differently about the road shoes for weight, aerodynamics and cornering.

oldacura

I also only put one foot down at stoplights (usually). If road conditions are sub-optimal, it might be a bit sketchy to tripod the bike with a slippery road shoe.

waynesulak

I some times use Speedplay and use covers that do not have to be removed to get some grip on road when stopping the tandem and walking.

ReedCycle

Both my wife and I have used Shimano Road Touring shoes for the past 10 years. The current model is the RT-82. These have space for a recessed SPD cleat with smooth rubber tread instead of the typical mountain bike rubber tread. The look like road shoes instead of mountain bike shoes. The rubber tread with the recessed cleats gives a good stable grip on the road when I am stopped and supporting the bike with one foot. We use XTR SPD pedals with these shoes. The price is right too - currently on sale for $84 at biketiresdirect.

MeadMan2

We use Shimano mtn bike pedals, M520 I think, that came with our Santana Arriva. *We had used Shimano sandals but now use Keen sandals which we prefer. They fit my foot better & have toe protection. *Both are easy to walk in & no problem holding up the tandem with one leg down. *I have heard that Keen may not make them anymore but I am not sure. *Sandals are quite popular in our part of the country. *I would never give up clipless pedals. **

jnbrown

I have always used Look pedals. The earlier models had a habit of squeaking but the newer KEO pedals are pretty quiet.
They are pretty light and come in different models at different price points but I use the cheaper ones.
The cleats come with some rubber strips on the bottom which makes them walkable but will wear out very quickly if you do much walking in them.
The thing I like about Look pedals is the amount of float (9 degrees with the red cleats) and how the float feels.
I use Specialized S-Works shoes and my wife has Sidis. Both of those will set you back much more $ than the pedals but are very important.
I think you are have to decide if you want an MTB or road system. The lightest and best power transfer is going to be road IMO.
But if plan to a lot of walking then MTB might be a better choice. I have no problem putting one foot down when we stop, but has worn my shoe in that area and I am about to put something on it to build it back up.

kingston 

I am pretty new to tandem cycling, but not new to cycling. I really like the PD-A600's on some of my other bikes but have decided not to put them on the tandem. On the tandem I use M540's for me in the front because I like to be able to just step down and engage on either side when we start. I had A530's for a while and didn't like having to make sure I had the pedal right side up to engage so I switched to the double sided M540's.

My wife uses A530's in the rear because she likes to have the option of not wearing bike shoes if she doesn't want to. When using the clipless, she always engages both feet before we start and powers the bike while I clip in my second foot. Hence, my preference for a double-sided pedal.

My wife likes to keep it pretty casual, so I have never for a second considered putting road pedals on the tandem. We are both using some of the Pearl Izumi shoes which are fine for the type of riding we do. I use sidi dominators on my single bikes, which IMO are hands-down the best road oriented SPD shoe, but I have often thought about giving the shimano RT-82's a try. They seem great for half the cost of the sidis.

fxsvelo

We use SPD for the captain, toe clips for the stoker on all our tandems. The only disadvantage is that you need to secure the toe clips so that they don't get driven into the ground when you're test riding the bike sans stoker. I keep a pair of mini bungees in the trunk bag.

wtandem

I rode for many years with SPD mountain bike shoes on our road tandems and triple. With the triple, I might still choose mountain bike shoes. I do just put one foot down. We switched to SPD road about a year and a half ago after my stocker wanted to try them and my son made fun of us for not using road shoes. I did test them out on my single before going to the tandem. I find the pontoons on the SPD road pedals quit grippy and stable. I do like the more solid connection on the road shoe when sprinting out of the saddle, but otherwise do not notice too much difference. I did try Look, briefly, as well and they do not provide as stable a platform as the SPD road at a light. SPD road are not too bad for walking, but not nearly as good as mountain shoes.

Bezalel

I don't know if this also applies to the PD-A600 but I was dissatisfied with my PD-A520s because they didn't orient themselves for easy entry like my Look Keos. I prefer the double sided SPDs (or SPD/Platform combos) if I need walkable shoes. If the stoker is just going to clip in once per ride the PD-A600s would probably be OK.

JMarino

We both wear Mountain Style shoes (mine are the retro looking Giro Empire VR90 Giro Empire VR90 Lace-Up MTB shoe) and Speedplay Frog pedals (SPEEDPLAY : HIGH PERFORMANCE PEDALS). We love the FROGS for the lightweight and the float they give.

Paul J

We both use mountain style shoes on our tandem. My shoes are very old and I'm looking at the Shimano RT 82's. My wife (stoker) is using the Pearl Izumi running shoes currently after having some toe numbness with the more traditional style shoe, she thinks she is needing a larger toe box which I'm looking into now. For pedals I use PD A530 in front which gives me the option to clip in or not. The stoker started with the A530's but is now using Speedplay Frogs pedals as she likes the zero tension after knee surgery last year.

qspencer

I use an old pair of Shimano shoes (nearly 10 years old now) that are probably a precursor to the RT 82 that others have mentioned. I use SPD pedals on all my bikes (road, cyclocross, & tandem), and my wife uses them on all of her bikes. We have several pair of M520 pedals, and a couple sets of M324, which allow use of cleats on one side and normal shoes on the other. Those ones tend to go on the bikes we use for riding around the neighborhood with the kids (or for finding kids at dinnertime). I have a couple of non-Shimano knock-offs and I've found that they often come with cleats with a slightly different shape. They work well enough with their own cleats, but engage only with great difficulty when using Shimano cleats. For this reason I've recently standardized on real Shimano pedals for everything.

Carbonfiberboy 

We run Shimano PD-M540 pedals for both of us. I really like a double sided pedal for captaining. Never a missed clip-in and easy with booties. We both use Sidi Dominator shoes. They're as stiff as a road shoe, but walkable. Believe me, no one will diss you for wearing Dominators. Most long distance riders around here, both tandem and single, use these particular shoes. My last pair went 50,000 miles and were still perfect when I stupidly lost them.

Alcanbrad

The PD-A600's do not self orient as you describe, however, I have never found that to be an issue, you will quickly develop a fluid motion with your foot that will orient the pedals. I like them as they have a nice wide platform for the shoe. I have wide feet and found with standard MTB pedals that my feet would tend to roll to the outside over time. The A600's solved that for me.

chojn1

I think shoes and pedals are like everything else on our bikes: They are a matter of personal preference. You have to try a few before you know what you like. We went through about 4-5 different types until we found the Speedplay Frogs. Now we have them on all our bikes. I think they fit the OP requirements very well. But again, you have to try them for yourself.

CJ

sch

Speedplay Frogs are my preferred pedal, used on the tandem, bent and two road bikes, and recently on the rarely used ATB bike. Unlike the
X series "road pedals" you can walk around reasonably well with Frogs and clipping in never requires any fiddling or a look down. When I rode tandems a
lot the pilot used Keos and was always having to fiddle with getting clipped in on start off, plus they are NOT walking friendly. My Frogs have upto
23k miles and show little evidence of wear. They are not inexpensive however and the cleats may last 6-10k miles but run ~$30. Spd double sided
are a good alternative.